Heart Month Events, Screenings, Programs at New York Hospital Queens

Healthy hearts are a special issue in Queens, where death rate from heart disease exceeds national average

Flushing, New York, January 28, 2010-- February is Heart Month across the U.S., and the need for awareness and action are especially significant in Queens, where heart disease is the number one killer and death rates from heart disease are higher than the national average. According to the most current available data Queens has an average death rate due to heart disease of 288 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 217 .

To help area residents learn more about their own risk factors and take important steps to avoid heart disease and prevent heart attacks, the Heart & Vascular Center of New York Hospital Queens is sponsoring a month-long series of free, public Healthy Heart presentations, screenings, demonstrations and symposiums throughout Queens

“We are committed to helping make Queens a ‘heart healthy’ community,” said Chong H. Park, M.D., Director, Division of Cardiology, “and so our physicians, nurses and rehab therapists will be out in the community throughout February, to promote awareness, share information, and help residents know their risk factors so they can take steps to avoid heart disease.”

The highlight of the month will be a symposium from 10 to noon on Wednesday Feb. 24, at the hospital’s Lang Auditorium. Cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons will present information on topics ranging from circulatory problems, to the latest surgical techniques for mitral valve problems. There will be displays, refreshments, and an opportunity to talk with women cardiologists about the special heart disease risks that women face. Information about how to make reservations (which are required) is available by clicking here or by calling 800-282-6684.

· Presentation at St. John’s University on Thursday, February 4, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in St. John's Council Hall, 800 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica. Nancy Rullo, Senior Exercise Physiologist, NYHQ, will discuss the importance of exercise and how it keeps your heart healthy. Free and open to the public.

· Healthy Heart Screening events, featuring screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, glaucoma and high blood pressure, plus cardiovascular risk assessments, sponsored by the New York Hospital Queens Community HealthOutreach team. These events are free and open to the public, and will be held:

Screenings and the presentation are free but you must register in advance, by calling 718-670-1695

And on at dusk on Friday, February 5, the Unisphere of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will be lit up in red. The Queens landmark will stay red for the rest of February, sponsored by NYHQ.

A detailed calendar of events and information about reservations and locations are available by clicking here or by calling 800-282-6684.

Heart & Vascular Center leaders will also be meeting with civic and business groups in the community during the month, to emphasize the importance of risk factor identification and heart disease prevention.

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New York Hospital Queens, the Heart Hospital of Queens, made the commitment to bring specialized heart and vascular care to this borough more than ten years ago, and today the Heart and Vascular Center is one of the most sophisticated centers in the Tri-State area. Affiliated with the Weill Cornell Medical College, the Heart and Vascular Center is a regional leader in offering the full spectrum of heart care, from diagnosis to medical and surgical treatment, to prevention and rehabilitation services. NHYQ cardiologists are involved in clinical research on an ongoing basis, with clinical trials of new treatments, devices and drugs that can help patients with heart disease. The Center provides medical education for residents, fellows and practicing physicians throughout the area, as well as sponsoring an active community education program for organizations and employers.